Steve Hofmeyr may as well rename The Netherlands The NEVERlands, because his show there just got cancelled.
The outspoken musician was scheduled to speak at a restaurant called Studio Dudok in Den Haag. Hofmeyr’s talk appears to have been scheduled as part of a political tour through the region, during which he intended to lecture on the dangers facing Afrikaaners in Africa. The Agter Elke Man actor was to deliver a speech at the Flemish Parliament in Brussels on Monday, titled Warnings From Africa.
That he was denied the chance to do so in The Netherlands is thanks to the efforts of fellow South Africans living there. According to Johan de Villiers of the African-European Indaba – a community for Africans living in Europe – the Hofmeyr talk was cancelled after he appealed to Studio Dudok “not be associated with his racially provocative statements”.
Weeks earlier, de Villiers had warned of Hofmeyr’s impending visit.
“Hofmeyr is coming here to 'file motions', among other things, together with the most right-wing parties for governments here to call upon the South African government to address farm murders more seriously,” he told a Dutch news channel. De Villiers added that he also wanted the South African government to address this issue, but not at the expense of other criminal activity.
On their Facebook page, Studio Dudok explained their decision to can the Hofmeyr talk.
“We as Dudok have always taken a stance against any kind of discrimination and racism. We like to be a place where everyone feels welcome as a guest or employee.”
Hofmeyr replied in highly dramatic fashion, apologising to all farmers on his Facebook page, and portraying those who protested against his visit as traitors.
“The freedom and invitation to tell our story is not being stopped by the Dutch – they were the ones who invited me – but by South Africans in the Netherlands who know we are busy hiding something gruesome.”
Hofmeyr also claimed it was a “cheap shot” to label him a racist and right wing.